Tzu Chi was Awarded Special Contributions for Philippines

In its 60th founding anniversary, DSWD (The Department of Social Welfare and Development) paid gratitude to Tzu Chi Foundation for the selfless dedication of its members in helping the department extend aid to marginalized people in the country.

With the theme "DSWD @ 60: Committed Social Service with Integrity," the department commemorated its six decades of steadfast service to disadvantaged sectors by preparing a weeklong of festivities starting January 24 including the PaNata Awards which recognizes the contribution of DSWD partners and stakeholders.

In the awarding ceremony on January 26, Tzu Chi Foundation was among the non-government organizations (NGOs) that DSWD acknowledged for their vow to share resources, time and selves to provide better opportunity for the poor and help DSWD carry out its mandate of assisting the disadvantaged sectors of society.

How Tzu Chi was started in PhilippinesIn the Philippines, the local Tzu Chi branch was established in 1994, three years after Master Cheng Yen received a Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. The award came with a prize money of US $30,000 (about P825,000 then), half of which she gave to flood victims in China and the other half to the victims of Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.

From then on, more and more local Chinese in the country started volunteering for Tzu Chi working towards one goal of relieving the sufferings of Filipinos nationwide. Along the way, Tzu Chi has had many partners, taking every opportunity to join other organizations, most especially the Philippine government, in giving ease to the burdened and indigent.

The support provided by the national government has enabled Tzu Chi volunteers to reach out to victims of disasters, destitute citizens and those suffering from illnesses in different areas. One of the agencies that have been very close to the hearts of the Tzu Chi volunteers is DSWD which now celebrates its anniversary.

Tzu Chi – a long time partner of DSWDTzu Chi's Philippines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alfredo Li and Deputy CEO Manuel Siao were present at the ceremony held at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

"Tzu Chi has been a long time partner of DSWD. In the disaster operations for the victims in Quezon province way back in 2004, the foundation was there to help out in terms of providing us with disaster response, rehabilitation, and even full reconstruction of the communities that were damaged by typhoons. And now Tzu Chi is engaged in helping us in our poverty reduction strategies particularly in Marikina City." said Assistant Secretary Vilma Cabrera who is also the Chairperson of the PaNata Awards.

Gracing the celebration as President Benigno Aquino III who conveyed, "Allow me to greet the winners of the PaNata Awards which the DSWD recognizes as those individuals or groups who never thought twice about giving their time, effort and themselves in assisting their less fortunate countrymen."

Aside from Tzu Chi Foundation, DSWD also awarded recognition to organizations like United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP), among others.

For two years in a row now, DSWD has granted Tzu Chi Foundation this special award of recognition which all the more strengthens the commitment of the volunteers to work closely with the government in alleviating the sufferings of the poor and spread goodness in the country which Master Cheng Yen hopes to regain the richness it had decades ago.

TC awarded by Dept. of Social Welfare

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